Loss of Taste and Smell!

For the past three days I have been without my sense of taste and smell, which for me is highly unusual; it has never happened in my life, and I am of course worried about it, especially with Coronavirus ravaging the country. After doing a little research on the subject I discovered that it can be a symptom of Coronavirus. This isn't a typical indicator of the disease and so far remains relatively rare.

Waking up this morning, I was troubled that I was still unable to use these senses, but went into work as usual, hoping that by the end of my short shift things would start to improve; no such luck. Perturbed I contacted 111, which was surprisingly quick and painless. I didn't have to wait on the phone and was put through to an operator straight away. The service is very different to what it was and everything is geared towards Coronavirus now, which is understandable and the truth is, I was just glad to talk to someone. My Doctors surgery isn't even contactable any more, they have also moved towards tackling COVID-19; Britain feels strange, alien and like nothing I have ever known, frightening in many respects. This is an emergency like no other, and we are only at the beginning of this crisis!

I explained my symptoms to the operator, who then went and spoke to a colleague. They can be related to Coronavirus, but with the absence of any other signs, I was told to monitor my situation over the next five days, by which time I could experience more usual manifestations and as long as they are mild I should isolate at home. At the moment however, I have been told to go about my normal daily routine. This is of course a little disconcerting and I feel constantly on edge waiting for COVID-19 to hit; not great for a health anxiety sufferer like me, but then all of us are in the same boat at present.

Work also feels weird and the changes introduced to accommodate the Governments emergency measures are stark. There are barriers and barricades protecting staff from the public and colleagues have been moved into more strategic roles in order to help feed the nation. Tesco was also far quieter today than it has been, with people finally listening to the Government and staying at home. Walking to work this morning in the spring sunshine I was struck by how silent the streets were finally. This is every ones last chance to do the right thing and stay at home and let the Government to its job, protecting the NHS and saving lives, that's all we have to do!

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